Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

207. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which it transpired that a person (details supplied) is having an alleged overpayment recovered at the rate of €50 per week and-or month and is also being pursued through the courts notwithstanding those payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14652/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The person concerned was in receipt of a One Parent Family (OPF) payment from 4/11/2010 until 7/6/2017.

Following an investigation into undeclared means relating to employment her OPF claim was discontinued in accordance with Departmental procedures and an overpayment of €20,664 was raised for the period 2/7/2015 to 26/4/2017. A notification letter of the overpayment incurred issued to the person concerned, dated 6/9/2017. The person concerned was offered the opportunity to provide further documentary evidence that might be relevant to the case. She was also offered the opportunity to appeal the revised decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

The person concerned is making repayments towards recovery of this overpayment in the amount of €50 per month. It is normal practice for the Department to take legal action where it is deemed that an offence has occurred. The fact that a person is making repayments towards a debt incurred as a result of an offence does not impact on this legal action going ahead.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.